Conveyer



Dec. 14, 1937. w C. YEAKEL 2,102,248

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet l Ulf 11 Bec. 14, 1937.

W. C. YEAKEL CONVEYE R 7 Sheets-Sheet 24 Filed Feb. 25, 1955 W uw QSDec. 14, 1937. W, Q YEAKEL 2,102,248

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 'YA/ /20 J Dec. 14, 1937.W. c. YEAKEL 2,102,248

coNvEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. C. YEAKEL Dec. 14,1937.

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1955 7 sheets-sheet 5A y mm Dec. 14, 1937. w. c.YEAKEI. 2,102,248

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1.955 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 W. C. YEAKEL Dec. 14,1937.

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 25, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Dec. I4, 1937UNITED STATES CONVEYER.

Walter C. Yeakel, Battle Creek, Mich., assigner, by mesne assignments,to Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication February 25, 1935, Serial No. 7,954 Y 26 Claims.

The present invention relates to conveyers and similar devices fortransporting boxes, bags, barrels and other objects from'place to place,and is particularly concerned with conveyers of the general type whichoperate with endless strands,

chains, belts or the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive conveyer for conveying all forms of packaged material inwhich the conveying elements are of ordinary hemp rope in the form ofbelts running over grooved pulleys.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a conveyerwhich is made up of units that can be readily joined together in amanner which permits them to be assembled at an angle with respect toeach other as well as in a straight line relation, the permissiveangularity including both vertical and horizontal angles.

An additional object of the present invention is the'provision ofimproved connecting means between the various -conveyer sections toaccommodate the aforesaid angularity, both vertical and horizontal,while effectively and efficiently transmitting the actuating power fromthe driving unit to the supporting grooved pulleys.

A further object of the presentv invention is the provision of aconveyer made up of units, one being a power unit and the others beingdriven units actuated through sLL'table connections with the power unit,and a further object of the present invention in Vthis connection is theprovision of drive means for each of the driven units which includes alongitudinally disposed drive shaft arranged to drive the two or moreconveying strands of rope or similar material.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of aconveyer unit utilizing two or more strands of rope, with the upper runof each supported so as to carry loads and 4o actuated by suitabledriving connections so as to be always in tension on the top side.

Still further, another object of the present invention is the provisionof a conveyer unit employing two load carrying strands acting in ten- 45sion and movable in the same direction for transporting objects, saidtwo strands being formed of one continuous rope or belt.

These and other objects of the present inventien will be apparent tothose skilled in the art 50Y after consideration of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

Referring new to the drawings:v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a power unit 55. and one of the drivenunits disposed at an angle to the power unit, both in the vertical planeAand in the horizontal plane; Y

Figure'v2 is a side View of a power unit and oneV of the driven units instraight line position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectiontaken along the 5 line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan View of the rear end of oneY of thedriven units, showing the means for maintaining the loadcarrying'strands, at the proper tension; l0

Figure 5 is a section takenl along the line 5 5. of Figure 4; p

Figure 6 is a top view illustrating the driving connection from theshaft of one driven unit to the shaft of another driven unitand themanner in which the two units are to'be connected together with onesupported on the other for movement with respect thereto aboutV axleswhich coin*- cide Vwith the axes of the universal joint which connectsthe driving shafts of the units;

Figure 7 is a side view of the constructionV shown inFigure 6, certainof the parts being shown in section, both Figures 6 and 7 illustratingthe parts in disassembled relation; Y

Figure 8 is a. view similar to Figure 6 but showing the parts in theirassembled position, with one unit arranged at a horizontal angle withrespect to the other;

Figure 9 is a .perspective view showing a modied form of the presentinvention in which one continuous rope is arranged to provide two loadcarrying strands and in Vwhich the pulley supports are xed and suitabletension means for the rope is carried by the frame between the endsthereof;

Figure 10 is a View showing the tensioning means for the constructionshown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a view showing a modied form of the present inventionembodying four load sup-V porting strands. l Y

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 3, theV referencenumeral l indicates, in its entirety, a conveyer power unit, and thereference numeral 2 indicates one of a series of driven conveyer unitssuitably connected, as will be Vex-Y plained later, with the unit VI toreceive power therefrom. While in Figure 1 I have shown only one of suchdrivenwunits, it isv to berunderstood that any suitable or desirablenumber maybe operativelyV associa-ted with a power unit. The power unitI- -itself comprises a suitable base or frame 5 including a pair oflaterally spaced channels 6 and a pair of laterally arranged channels l,each pair being disposed in parallelism, and the lateral channels beingsuitabIyseCured, as 5,5

by welding or the like, to the upper sides of the longitudinal channels6, as best shown in Figure Y 2. The lateral frame channels 1 support asource `of power, such as an electric motor 8 having channels 6inbetween the motor frame channels 1, the casing I@ including gearreduction means operatively connected to drive a longitudinal shaft I2from the motor shaft 9 at a reduced rate. To this end, thegear reductionmeans mounted in the casing or housing I0 is preferably worm gearingincluding a worm Secured to a shaft journaled in the upper part of thecasing, and connected with the motor shaft 9 through a ilexible couplingI4, and a gear xed to the longitudinal shaft I2. The intermediateportion of the latter is supported by suit-able bearings in the casingI5, and at one end the shaft is supported by a bracket I5 at one end ofthe frame while the other end of the shaft is supported ina second gearreduction housing i6 at lthe other end of the frame 6, as best shown inFig- Vure 1.

The bracket I5 is carried Aupon an angle I1 suit-ably secured as bybolts or rivets to the channels 6, andas best shown in Figure 2, thehousing I6 includes a base section 26 suitably secured as by bolts orrivets to the channels 6 at the ends thereof opposite thetransverse'angle I1. A pulley shaft 23 is journaled in laterallyarranged bearings carried by the casing I6, and a pair of laterallyspaced grooved pulleys 24y and 25 are Securely xed to the shaft' 23, andat the other end of the power unit frame channels 6, laterallyY spacedgrooved pulleys 26 and 21 are provided, each mounted for separateswinging movement upon a rockable'bracket 3G, 'the' Abrackets 30 havingstub shaftsA 3| and 32, respectively, upon which the grooved pulleys 26and 21 are rotatably mounted. As best shown in Figure 2, each of thebrackets 36 is supported for rockingrmovement at its lower end on ashaft or pivot support 34 carried by and secured to the longitudinalchannels 6, just forward of the vertical flange of the transverse anglemember I1.

' A -pair of rope belts 36 and 31 is carried by the pulleys`24 and 26,and 25 and 21, respectively,v

the aforesaid pulleys being disposed in parallel planes, as best shownin Figure 1. The proper tension is maintained in the belts 36 and 31 bymeans of a spring 40 which encircles and is mounted on a member that ispivotally` anchored to a bracket 4I carried by the gear reductionhousing I I and which also engages and acts against a second member 42slida le with respect to said rst member and connected to an equalizer43 at its other end. The equalizer 43 has lateral extensions pivotallyconnected to ears or lugs 44 and 45 which are formed integral with orcarried by the upper ends, respectively, of the brackets or rockablesupports 30. This tension equalizer for the belts 36 and V31 of thepower unit I is substantially the same as the tension equalizing meansfor 'the driven units shown in Figures 4 and 5, and which willbedescribedl-ater. The spring 4ll`acts to rock the supports for thepulleys 26 and 21 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, thisbeing for the purpose of maintaining the proper tension in the conveyingbelts 36 and 31, and by virtue of this construction, the same tension isimposed onV eachof the ropes 36 and 31 by means of a single resilientmember.

Theupper runs of thel endless belts 36 and 31 constitue theload'carrying portions, and as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, an angleiron 48 is arranged at each side of the unit I in'substantiallyhorizontal position directly underneath the load carrying strands, andthe angles d8 are suitably supported in the position shown in Figure 1by suitable brackets 5I and 52, each consisting of two U-shaped memberssecured together, back to back, with the leg portions of one of themsecured to the frame channels 6 and the arm or Side portions of theother serving to receive and support the angles 48. From Figure 2 it isalso to be noted thatthe U-shaped support 52 embraces one end of thespring 4B of the rope tensioning means. The angles 4B are not secureddirectly to the upper side portions of the brackets 5I and 52, but eachis supported on and reenforced by a tubular member 54 in any suitablemanner, as by welding or the like, preferably the same construction,shown in Figure 3, as for the driven units which ywill be describedbelow. These parts take practically the entire weight of the material orobjects being transported, thereby relieving the ropes 36 and 31 of al1tension stresses, except, of course, those incident to the driving ofthe rope belts of that unit. Y

Each of the driven units 2 embodies substantially the same constructionas that described above for the power unit i. In certain respects,however, the construction oi a driven conveyer unit differs from thatdescribed above, and one of the driven units will now be described, Theframe of thel driven unit consists ci a longitudinal central pipe ortubular rnernbz-n'V 5E? connected at its rear end with a casting 5lhaving a centrally disposed foot 62, as best shown in Figure 7 in whichthe forward end of an .adjacent driven section is shown. The opposite orforward end of the supporting tubular member 69 of each driven unitcarries a casting 63 provided with laterally directed sections 64 and 65terminating in lsupporting feet 65 and 61, as best indicated in Figures6 and 7. The rear casting @I of each driven unit is formed with anupstanding portion lll'terminating in a sleevesection 1I, and the sleevesection 1! is provided with suitable bearing means 12 rotatablysupporting a drive shaft The other end of the shaft 13 is journaled inthe lower part of a gear case 11 which includes a supporting portion lsecured to a shelf portion` formed on the casting 53, as best shown inFigure 7. The gear case 'i1 serves to support a transverse pulley shaft8G upon which pulleys 3 and 92 are se curely fixed to rotate therewith.The pulley shaft 86 is driven frornthe driving shaft "E3 by means of aworm secured to driving shaft 13 and disposed withinthe housing 11 and aworm wheel carried by the shaft i within the housing and meshing withthe aforesaid worm. Itis to be understood, of course, that any otherform of drive or gear reduction means between the shaft '53 andthepulley shaft may be provided.

A pair or pulleys El and 82, such as `lose just described, are disposedon the shaft te at the forward end of each of the driven units, and, atthe rear end of each ofthe driven units, pulleys 84 and 35 are provided,as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. These pulleys are grooved, as are thepulleys 8l and 82, to receive conveying belts f andl 88 or" rope or thelike, andlike the idler pulleys 25 and 21 of the power unit I, the`pulleys 84 and 85 of each driven unit are mounted for rocking movementabout transverse axes and associated with suitable tension retainingmeans for maintaining the proper tension in the conveying belts orstrands. Each of the pulleys 84 and is mounted o-n a stub shaft 99suitably secured in the upper end Yof a rockable standard 9 I, the lowerend of which is pivoted upon a shaft 92 carried in any suitable mannerby'the rear casting member 6 The lower runs of the belts 81 and 88 aresupported on a pair of idler pulleys'SS carried on a shaft carried by abracket 94 (Figure 3) which is also provided with bearing meanssupporting the intermediate portion of the shaft 13. The conveying orupper runs of the two belts 81 and 88 of each driven unit are suitablysupported -by means which is substantially the same as that provided inthe power unit I for the same purpose, and includes an angle ironcarried by and secured to, as by welding or the like, a supportingtubular member A96. An angle member 95 and a tubular supporting member95 are provided for each of the belts, and both of such supporting meansare carried, in the driven units, by supporting bracket means 91, 9Bvand99 (Figure 2), these brackets being identical, for all practicalpurposes, with the brackets 5| and 52 described above in connection withthe power unit I. The angles 95 constitute guides for supporting therope belts, and the guides 95 at each end thereof are flared, asindicated by the reference numeral |99, to prevent wearing the ropes atthese points. The tensioning means for maintaining the belts 81 and 88taut comprises an equalizer member |02 similar to the equalizer 43described above, the member |92 including lateral arm portions |94 and|95 which are respectively received by ears or lugs |06 and |91 carriedby the two rockable brackets or supports 9| for'the pulleys 84 and 85.Tension is applied to the two standards 9| through the equalizer member|02 by suitable spring means indicated in its entirety by the referencenumeral IIIJ, and consisting of a compression spring III bearing,V atone end, against the shoulder I I2 carried on a member I I 3 pivotallyanchored, as at I I4, to the bracket 99, the other end of the springacting against an adjustable member I I6 having portions disposed inslidable telescopic relation with respect to the member 3. 'I'headjustable member 6 includes a threaded portion I I8 receiving thesleeve end I |9 of a clevis |20 that is pivotally connected by a pin I2Iwith the equalizer |92. An adjusting nut |23 can be adjusted on the'endI I8 of the member ||6 to apply greater or less tension on the ropes 81and 88.

So far as I have described above, there has been provided a power unitand one or more drivenA units, each having a longitudinal shaft by whichthe grooved'pulleys at one end of the unit are rotated to cause theupper runs of the rope belts to be driven in the same direction whileVsup-A ported on the guides therefor. One feature of the presentinvention lies in the manner in which the driven units can be connectedto each other or to the shaft of the power unit. As described above, itwill be remembered that the longitudinal shaft of the power unit as Wellas the shafts of the driven units extend from one end to the other ofthe supporting frame for the unit, so that by connecting the adjacentends of the shafts together, the entire assembly of units can be drivenby operating the power unit. The means by which these connections areestablished while accommodating angular displacement of one unit withrespect to the other, both in the vertical plane and in the horizontalplane, will' now be described.

yReferring now to Figures 6, 7 and 8, at the rear end of each of theunits thereV is provided a yokemember indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral |29, each including a sleeve portion |30 and twolaterally disposed bifurcated arms I3| and |32, each being slotted as at|33 in Figures 5 and 8L The yoke |29 is mounted for limited rockingmovement about Van aXis, coinciding with the axis of the driving shaft13, the sleeve section 1I being provided with a shoulder |35 up againstwhich the yoke |29 is disposed, as best shown in Figure 7, and thesection 1| carries a pin |36 which is received in a slot |31 formed inthe -sleeve section `of the yoke |29 and servesthe purpose not only ofkeeping the yoke-section in'V place on the casting section 1|, but, inaddition, serves to limit the permissive rocking movementof the yoke|29. This end of the driven unit is adapted to' be operatively connectedwith either Y the front end of the power unit I` or the front end of anintervening driven unit as indicated in Figures '7 and 8. For thepurpose of establishing the proper connection, the casting member 63, inthe'case of an intervening driven unit (Figure 7) or the front end ofthe power unit is provided with a vertical yoke I 49 having a spindle|4| suitably journaled for rocking movement about a vertical axis in asleeve portion |42 of the casting 63. The yoke |49 extends upwardly inthe form of a pair of laterally spaced arms |44 and |45, each of whichcarries a laterally outwardly extending pin or rear end of the shaft 13of one unit and theY front end of the shaft 13 of the adjacent unit isaccomplished by a universal joint |50 of more Y or less conventionalconstruction, embodying two similar members |5| and |52 keyed or splinedonto the associated driving shaft and having 4arms pivotally connectedto a block |53 for movement about axes lying at right angles to eachother in a vertical transverse plane. When the units are assembled, theaxes of the universal joint |55 coincide with the axes established bytheipivot studs |46 and the spindlev |41. In order to hold the assembledsections together, a lock |55 is provided which consists of Varms |56pivoted on pins carried by the yoke arms I3| and |32, and hooks |51arranged, when the lock is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFigure` 7, down over shoulders |58 on the yoke arms |44 and |45 to holdtheconveyer sections or units together, the arms I3| and |32 of the yoke|29 bearing on the pins I 46 of the yoke |40 serving to transmit theweight of the rear end of one section to the front end of the adjacentsection, cooperating with the center foot 62 in this respect. The slot|31, permitting the yoke |29V to rock laterally relative to the unit,compensates for uneven floors or careless assembly. By virtue of thisconstruction each unit can take any angular position, within practicallimits, both vertically and horizontally, relative to the precedingsection or unit. This provides a very flexible conveyer system in whichpractically any kind of package, sacked material, barrels, boxes andcartons can be handled.

While I have described above the use of rope for the conveying strandsor belts, and such does form the preferred material, it is to beunderstood that my invention is not to be `limited to the use of thismaterial. Rope has a number and '7, the lateral and foot sections, 64 to61,

may be replaced by a transverse pipe 64a (Figures l and 2) provided withfoot portions 61a, if desired.

Figure 2 shows a somewhat'different form of tensioning means as comparedwith the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 2 thetensioning means comprises the same unit ||9 as is described above andillustrated in Figures 4 and 5, but instead of being anchored as at 4 inFigure 5 to one of the `guide supporting standards, in Figure 2 theanchoring member |3a is pivotally connected to a separate bracket |59suitably welded or otherwise permanently secured to the supportingtubular member 60. In both cases, however, the action of the springVmeans in keeping the rope strands taut is substantially the same.

VFigures 9 and 10 show a somewhat modified formV of the presentinvention, distinguishing from the form previously described in that thetwo load conveying strands are supplied by the use of a singleVcontinuous rope and the use of direction-changing pulleys. Also, thesupporting grooved pulleys at the ends of the unit are fixed and are notarranged to rock because the required tensioning means takes anotherform, being preferably associated with certain of the aforesaiddirection-changing or idler pulleys.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 9 and l0, the referencenumeral |99 indicates a tubular supporting member similar, for allpractical purposes, to the tubular supporting member 69 described above,and including end castings or members |6| and |62 similar to thosedescribed above, but in Figure 9 both the castings include a suitablefixe-d support for the pulley shafts |64 and |65. The casting |82carries or includes a gear case |65 which contains suitable gear meansby which the longitudinal drive shaft |61, journaled forrotation on saidcastings, is driven. The drive pulleys |68 and |69, being mounted on theshaft |65, are thus driven by power to drive the load carrying strands|1| and |12. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 9, however,the load carrying strands |1| and |12 form a part of the same rope,indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral |13. The loadcarrying strands are held in position by angle guides |15 and |16,welded to guide supports |11 and |18 carried by brackets |8|, |82 and|83, as in the previously described modification. The long continuousrope |13 is trained over a pair of pulleys and |85 carried by the pulleyshaft |84, the pulleys |88 and |85 being disposed in alignment, that is,they occupy positions in the same plane, and the same is true of thepulleys |59 and |85 at the other side of the unit.

In order to be able to use one long continuous rope to provide the twoload carrying strands |1| and |12, a plurality of idler pulleys aremounted on the tubular supporting member |68. The idler pulleys |99 and|9! are, in effect, disposed on opposite sides of the tubular supportingmember |60 and serve to direct the rope, coming off the pulley |68, to aposition so it will run around the rear pulley |89 at the other side ofthe unit. Similarly, rope coming from the drive pulley |69 passes aroundthe pulley |92 of a tensioning means, indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral [93,'and over a third idler pulley |911 carried on thesame side of the tubular member |68 as the idler |99. The idler |99 ismounted in a position to feed or direct rope around the supportingpulley |85.

The tensioning means |93 is best shown in Figure 10 and comprises abracket 299 rigidly secured to one of the lower legs'oi the supportingstandard |83. The bracket 290 includes an end 29| disposed at rightangles to the main body of the bracket and apertured to slidably receivethe shank 282 of a supporting member 293 for the pulley |92 carriedthereby. The shank 282 extends toward the' idler supporting pulleys |85and |86 and at its` end carrier a cap 289, and between which and ashouldered member 291 carried by the bracket 298 a compression spring298 is disposed for the purpose of constantly urging the pulley |92toward the right as viewed in Figures 9 and l0. The drive shaft |61 ofthe single rope unit just described is driven in the f same manner andis adapted to be optionally connected together with other units in thesame manner as described above, so that a repetition of theseconnections is not necessary.

According to the principles of the present in- Y vention, more than twoload supporting strands may be provided where desirable or necessary.For example, as shown in Figure 11, a unit similar to that shown-inFigures l and 2 may be pro.

vided with pulley shafts of somewhat greater length, and additionalpulleys 2li) and 25| and additional rocking brackets 2h? and 2|3 may bemounted alongside the pulleys 26 and 21. A similar construction can beemployed at the other end of the unit, whether a power unit or a drivenunit, thereby providing for four separate load carrying strands.Similarly, the modification shown in Figures; 9 and l0 may likewise beprovided With additional pulleys and the single continuous rope trainedaround them in such man ner that, although only a single rope is used,the desired four separate load carrying strands are provided.

While I have described above the preferred structure in which theprinciples of the present invention have been embodied, it is to beunderstood that my invention is not to be limited to the details shownand described, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employedin the practice of the broader aspects oi my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A conveyer comprising a pair of spaced bars serving as a supportingbase, a bracket secured to one end of said bars and acting to maintainthe latter in spaced apart relation, a transverse shaft carried by saidbracket, a pair of pulleys mounted on said shaft, bracket meanssupported at the other end of said bars and serving to maintain them inspaced apart relation, said bracket means including independentlyswingable sections, a pulley carried by each section, a pair of endlessbelts, one carried by each of said last mentioned pulleys and theassociated one of said nrst mentioned pulleys, means associated withsaid swingable bracket sections for maintaining said endless belts'undersubstantially the same tension, and means supported by said base fordriving said belts.

2. A conveyer comprising means serving as a base, a stationary bracketsecured to one end of the base, a pair of spaced pulleys carried by saidbracket, bracket means carried at the-other end of said base andincluding swingably mounted sections, a pair of spaced pulleys, onecarried by each of said swingable sections, a pair of endless beltssupported in parallel relation by said pulleys, spring means reactingagainst said swingable bracket sections for maintaining tension in saidpair of belts, and means for -driving said endless belts.

3. A conveyer comprising a pair of spaced bars serving as a supportingbase, bracketssecured to said bars adjacent the ends thereof and actingto maintain the bars in spaced apart relation, transverse shaft meanscarried by each bracket, a pair of pulleys mounted on each shaft means,endless belt means having portions supported in parallel relation bysaid pulleys, a longitudinal shaft carried by said brackets and con- Ynected with one of said transverse shaft means for driving said belts, aplurality of intermediate brackets carried by said base between thepulleys at one end and the pulleys at the other end, said bracketsterminating upwardly in laterally directed branches, a tubularsupporting member carried by said branches at each side of the base, anda supporting member having Yupwardly diverging faces carried by each ofsaid tubular members and adapted to receive the associated upper run ofthe belt at that side of the base.

4. A conveyer comprising meansY serving as a base, a bracket secured tothe base at one end thereof, a pair of spaced apart pulleys mounted nsaid bracket, bracket means carried at the other end of said base andincluding two laterally spaced swingable bracket sections, a pulleysupported by each of said sections, a pair of endless belts supported inparallel spaced apart relation by said pulleys, an equalizer memberpivotally connected with said swingable bracket sections, spring meansreacting against said equalizer Vmember for maintaining substantiallythe same tension in each of said endless belts, and means associatedwith the pulleys at the otheraend of said base for driving said belts.

5. A conveyer comprising apair of interconnected sections each havingendless belt ,conveying means, a source of power for driving theconveying means of one section, means at the ends of the other sectionfor movably supporting the associated conveying belt, one of saidsupporting means being longitudinally jadjustable -to maintain tensionin said belt, and a driving Vconnection extending from said one sectionto the other of said belt supporting means at the far end ofthe othersectionfor driving vthe conveying belt of the latter with the upper runof the belt moving under `tension away from said first section. u Y

6. A conveyerv comprising a plurality of conveyer sections, adjacentsections being pivotally connected togetherfor relative movement aboutan axis, a source of power, and articulated means separate from thepivot connection betweensaid sections and including a universal jointdisposed in said axis for driving said sections from said source ofpower.

i 7. A conveyer comprising a plurality of kconveyer sections, conveyingmeans on each of isaid sections, a longitudinal shaft extending from oneendl to the other of each of said sections for driving the-conveyingmeans of that section, a universal joint connecting the end of onelongitudinal shaft with the adjacent end of the next shaft, means forsupporting the end of one section on ythe adjacent end of the nextsection including a yoke swiveled for movement about one axis andcarried by one section, a second `yoke carried by the other section andswiveled for movement about an axis disposed at right angles to saidfirst aXis, and means pivotally supporting the arms of one yoke on thearms of the other yoke for relative movement about an axis at rightangles to both of the aforesaid axes, all of said axes intersecting at apoint in the plane of the axes of the universal joint connecting the twoassociated longitudinalshafts. y

il. A conveyer comprising a pair of spaced bars serving as a supportingbase, a bracket secured to one end. of said-bars` and 'acting tomaintain the latter` in spa-ced apartarelation, a transverse shaftcarried by said bracket, a pair of pulleys mountedon said shaft, bracketmeans supported at the other end vof said bars and serving to maintainytherniin spaced apart relation, said bracket means includingindependently swingable sections, a pulley carried byeach section, apairof endless belts,` one carried by each ofsaid-Y last mentioned pulleysand the associated one of said first mentioned pu1leys, and -meansassociated with said swingable bracketsections for maintainingsaidendless belts under tension.

9. A portableA conveyer comprising a tubular member serving as a movablesupporting base,

Vbrackets secured toandvmovable with said base adjacent the endsthereof, transverse Vshaft means lcarried byeach bracket, a pair of`pulleys mountedon said shaft -means, endless `belt means having portionssupported in parallel relation by said pul1eys,a plurality of`intermediate brackets carried by said base between the pulleysat oneend andthe pulleysv `at the other end, and a supporting member'carriedat each side of the base on said intermediate brackets and havingupwardly opening supporting surfacesadapted to receive the associatedupper run of the belt means at that side of the base so as to relieve`the pulleys of the strain -of supporting the load on the upper runs ofsaid beltj means.

10. A conveyer comprising a plurality of oonveyer sections,'conveying--means onv each of said sections, a longitudinaly shaft Yextending,from one end to the other of each of said sections for driving theconveying means of that section, a `universal joint connecting the endof'one longitudinal shaft with the adjacent end of the next shaft, andmeans connecting said sections together for relative movement about aplurality of axes 'coinciding generally with the axes of relativemovement of said universal joint.`

11. A conveyer-comprising a plurality of conveyer sections, each of saidsections including means serving as a base, bracket'means carried atVeach end` thereof, a pair of laterally spaced pulleys mounted forrotation on each of said brackets, lbelt means rincluding loadsupporting portions `carried in spaced relation on said pulleys, and alongitudinally disposed driving shaft extending from one end to theotherY of said basel and operatively connected with certain of saidpulleys for driving said load carrying belt `portions, each of saidlongitudinal shafts being disposed in a position between said pulleys,means pivotally connecting the base portions of said axes of relativemovement dened by said uni-l versal joint corresponding to the axes ofrelative pivotal movement between the associated sections.

121A conveyer comprising a base including a longitudinally disposedtubular member, a'casting mounted at one end thereof and including acentral foot portion and a second casting mounted at the opposite end ofsaid tubular member and including laterally directed portionsterminating in laterally spaced foot sections, each of said castingsincluding upwardly facing bracket receiving surfaces, brackets mountedthereon at opposite ends of the base and each carrying journal means, alongitudinally disposed shaft mounted in said journal means on saidbrackets and Vextending therefrom at opposite ends, a pair of laterallyspaced pulleys mounted for Vrotation on each of said brackets, meansoperatively connecting one end of said shaft with the pulleys disposedat that end for driving the latter, and

load carrying belt means mounted on said pulleys.

13.V A conveyer comprising a base including a longitudinally disposedtubular member, a casting mounted at one end thereof and including acentral foot portion and a second casting mounted at the opposite end ofsaid tubular member and including laterally directed portionsterminating in laterally spaced foot sections, each of said castingsincluding upwardly facing bracket receiving surfaces, brackets mountedthereon at opposite ends of the base and each carrying journal means, alongitudinally disposed shaft mounted in said journal means on saidbrackets and extending therefrom atV opposite ends, a pair of laterallyspaced pulleys'mounted for rotation on each of said brackets, meansoperatively connecting one end of said shaft with the pulleys disposedat that end for driving the latter, load carrying belt means mounted onsaid pulleys, an intermediate bracket carried by said tubular basemember between the castings at the ends thereof, and idler pulleyscarried on said intermediate bracket for supporting the lower run ofsaid belt 14. A portable conveyer comprising means serving as a base,bracket means secured to each end of the b ase, a pair of spaced pulleyscarried by each of said bracket means'and disposed laterally outwardlyof the base, belt means including load supporting portions supported inparallel relation by said pulleys, a longitudinal drive shaft extendingsubstantially the entire length of said base, an intermediate bracketcarried by the latter for supporting said longitudinal shaft, meansconnecting the latter with one pair of pulleys for driving the same, anda transverse bar disposed at the end of said base adjacent said one pairof pulleys and serving to hold the conveyer in upright position.

15. A conveyerY section comprising Y means serving as a supporting base,a pair of brackets secured to said base, transverse shaft means carriedby each bracket, a pair of pulleys mounted on each shaft means, endlessbelt means supported with portions in parallel relation by said pulleys,a plurality of intermediate brackets carried by said base between thepulleys at one end and the pulleys at the other end, said bracketsterminating upwardly in laterally directed branches, a supporting membercarried by said branches at each side of the base and having upwardlysupporting surfaces adapted to receive the associated upper run of thebelt at that side of the base, and means for driving said belt means.

16. A conveyer section comprising a supporting base, brackets securedthereto adjacent the ends thereof, transverse shaft means carried byeach bracket, a pair'ofV pulleys mounted on each shaft means, endlessbelt means supported with portions in parallel relation by said pulleys,a longitudinal shaft carried by said brackets and connected with one ofsaid transverse shaft means for driving said belt means, a plurality ofintermediate brackets carri'ed by said base between the pulleys at oneend and the pulleys at the other end, said brackets terminating upwardlyin laterally directed branches, and a supporting member carried by saidbranches at each side ofthe base and having upper supporting surfacesadapted to receive the associated upper run of the belt means at thatside of the base.

17. A conveyer section comprising la supporting base, brackets securedto said base adjacent the ends thereof, transverse shaft means carriedby each bracket,v a pair of pulleys mounted on each shaft means, a pairof endless belts' supported in parallel relation by said pulleys, aplurality of intermediate inverted U-shaped brackets carried by saidbaser between the pulleys at one end and the pulleys at the other end,said brackets carrying upwardly and laterally directed branches,longitudinally disposed supporting members having upwardly directedfaces carried by said branches and adapted to receive the upper runs ofthe belt, and means including a longitudinal shaft disposed on said basebetween the legs of said intermediate brackets and connected with one ofsaid. transverse shaft means for driving said belts. Y

18. A conveyer comprising a pair of interconnected sections pivotailyconnected together for relative movement about an axis and each havingendless belt conveying means, a source of power arranged to drive theconveying means of one section, means at the ends of the other sectionfor movablysupporting the associated conveying belts, anda drivingconnection extending from said one section to the belt supporting meansat the far end of the other section Yand including articulated meansseparate from the pivot 4connection between said sections and having `auniversal joint disposed in said axis for driving the conveying belts ofsaid other section with the upper run of the belts moving under tensionaway from said one section.

19. A conveyer comprising a tubular member serving as a supporting base,brackets secured tof? said base adjacent the ends thereof, transverseshaft means carried by each bracket and extending laterally outwardly ofsaid tubular member, a pair of pulleys mounted on each shaft means,endless belt means having load carrying portions supported in parallelrelation by said pulleys, a plurality of intermediate brackets fixed tosaid tubular member and terminating upwardly in laterally divergentbranches, means carried by the latter for receiving the load supportingportions of said belt means, means fixed to said tubular member forsupporting Vthe lower portions of said belt means, and means for drivingsaid belt means.

20. A frame for a conveyer comprising a sup' porting base, pulleysupporting brackets secured to said base adjacent the ends thereof, aplurality of intermediate brackets carried by said base between saidfirst brackets and terminating Vupwardly in laterally directed branches,and a belt supporting member carried by said branches.V

21. A frame for a conveyer comprising a sup- Y porting base, pulleysupporting brackets secured to said baseY adjacent the ends thereof, aplurality of intermediate brackets carried by said base between saidfirst brackets and terminating upwardly in laterally directed branches,a tubular supporting member carried by said branches at each side of thebase, and a belt supporting member having upwardly diverging facescarried by each of said tubular members.

22. A conveyer comprising a base including a longitudinally disposedmember, a casting mounted at one end thereof and including a centralfoot portion and a second casting mounted at the opposite end of saidmember and including laterally directed portions terminating inlaterally spaced foot sections, a longitudinally disposed shaftsupported for rotation on said castings and extending therefrom atopposite ends, a pair of laterally spaced pulleys mounted for rotationon each of said castings, means operatively connecting one end of saidshaft with the pulleys disposed at that end for driving the latter, andload carrying belt means mounted on said pulleys.

23. A conveyer comprising a base including a longitudinally disposedmember, a casting mounted at one end thereof and including a centralfoot portion and a second casting mounted at the opposite end of saidmember and including laterally directed portions terminating inlaterally spaced foot sections, a longitudinally disposed shaftsupported for rotation on said castings and extending therefrom atopposite ends, a pair of laterally spaced pulleys mounted for rotationon each of said castings, means operatively connecting one end' of saidshaft with the pulleys disposed at that end for driving the latter, loadcarrying belt means mounted on-said pulleys, an intermediate bracketcarried by said base member between the castings at the ends thereof,and idler pulleys carried on said base for supporting the lower run ofsaid belt means.

24. A portable conveyer comprising a longitudinal member serving as abase, bracket means secured to each end of the base, a pairof spacedpulleys carried by each of said brackets and disposed laterallyoutwardly thereof, belt means including load supporting portionssupported in parallel relation by said pulleys, a central Afoot sectionat one end of said longitudinal member,v and a. transverse sectiondisposedat the other end of said longitudinal member and vserving tohold the conveyer in uprightv position. Y

25. A portable conveyer comprising a member serving as a base, bracketmeans secured t each end of the base, a pair of spaced pulleys carriedby each of said bracket means and disposed laterally outwardly of thebase, belt means including load supporting portions supported inparallel relation by said pulleys, a longitudinal drive shaft extendingsubstantially the entire length of said member, an intermediate bracketcarried by the latter for supporting said longitudinal shaft, meansconnecting the latter with one pair of pulleys for driving the same, andbracket means carried by said base member for receiving the loadsupporting portions of said belt means.

26. A frame for a conveyer comprising a supporting base, pulleysupporting brackets secured to said base adjacent the ends thereof, aplurality of intermediate brackets carried by said base between said rstbrackets and terminating upwardly in laterally directed branches,supporting mea-ns carried by said branches at each 'side of said base`and including longitudinally extending members forming upwardlydirected faces for supporting the upper run of an endless beltintermediate said pulley supporting brackets.

WALTER C. YEAKEL.

